Opinion

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Less Democrats and more Conservatives Dear Editor, Congratulations on this week’s op-ed titled “California taxpayers aren’t thankful for much, etc.” It is hard to believe what Sacramento is doing to the middle class in the state. We need to replace about half of the Democrats in the legislature with Conservatives before the state follows Illinois…

■ Carl Cohn / Contributed Earlier this year, a representative of a California advocacy and civil-rights organization asked me if the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), the new state agency that I head, has a “genuine sense of urgency” about its work in getting the right kind of help and assistance to districts, charters…

■ Bob Franken / Columnist LONDON — “Come in. We love Americans.” It was a restauranteur hustling customers outside his establishment here in London. My wife and I are here for our anniversary. I was ready with my retort: “I must say I admire how you can keep a straight face while claiming to love…

■ THOMAS D. ELIAS / Columnist Charles Manson is dead and the timing is definitely appropriate. The most notorious inmate in the California prison system died this week at 83 of natural causes in a Bakersfield hospital where he had been taken from Corcoran State Prison. Death came not long after an abdominal condition from…

Lack of parade etiquette troubling Dear Editor, My wife and I want to commend the parade committee for assembling a numerous and varied group of participants. We were amazed that apparently about 90 percent of the onlookers had no understanding of the American tradition of standing at attention with hat over the heart as the…

■ David Porter / Contributed I’m thinking about creating a virtual currency, and here’s your chance to get in on the ground floor. Like any virtual currency, it has no actual value beyond what two people transacting business agree that it has. There are no guarantees, no governmental backing and, in fact, may be illegal…

Far too many government schools appear to be failing ■ Larry Sand / Contributed On Nov. 16, 2017, the United Teachers of Los Angeles held a “Save Our Schools” rally, which was part of the larger American Education Week, a National Education Association creation. Touting NEA’s 2017 theme, “Public Schools for all,” union President Lily…

■ Jon Coupal / Contributed In this season of Thanksgiving, please don’t blame battered taxpayers if they pause when asked for what are they grateful. Considering the punishment being dished out to working Californians and the middle class by the Legislature and the governor, it may take them a moment to refocus on the good.…

S■ Bob Franken / Columnist till another Thanksgiving has passed, and I have done what I always do: nothing. I didn’t overeat, and certainly didn’t travel. Getting together with family and friends can wait for a non holiday. There is no way in the world I’m going to endure airports, long Transportation Security Administration lines…

If I can salvage a moral to the story, perhaps it’s this: Life ultimately is about the pursuit of happiness ■ David Porter / Contributed Funny how our priorities change over time. Things we wanted badly years ago, we don’t want at all today. Used to be, I had three TV sets and 60 channels.…